Tension device.



No. 754,516. PATENTED MAR. 1 5, 1904. E. W. TEMPLE.

TENSION. DEVICE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED MAR. 14, 1993.

H0 MODEL.v

llll L UNITED STATES Patented March 15, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE. i

IEEED w.v TEMPLE, -oE cANovA, SOUTH DAKOTA.

TENSION DEVISE.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of 'Letters Patent No. 754,516, dated March 15, 1904.

Application filed March 14, 1903.

To a/ZZ whom, ,it may concern; l

Be it known that I, FEED W. TEMPLE, a citi-` zen of the United States,.residingat Canova, in the county of Miner and State of. VSouth Dakota have invented new and useful .Improvements in Tension Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tensiony devices, being particularly designed for use in connection with the trolling-line of a ships log.-

The object of the invention is to provide means for taking up the slack in the line when the vessels speed is retarded or when its pro-l pulsion ceases. j v

Heretofore difhculty has been experienced in obtaining a correct record of the actualdistance traversed by a vessel, owing to the -fact that when the speed of the vessel was retarded or when it ceased to*v move considerable slack occurred in the line, and the distancethat the vessel was required to traverse upon starting before the slack was overcome did not appear upon the indicator of the log. By the use of this invention, however, the exact distance traversedl by the vessel can be recorded.' It also frequently'happens that the log becomes entangled in the propeller of the vessel orbecomes .detached from its line and unlesssome means is utilized for Adenoting the-parting of the line this fact does not become known .im-

mediately. Vf By using a device constructed in accordance with my invention, however, the loss of the log will be :instantly indicated.

Broadly stated, the invention consists. of a pair of pivoted interlocking jaws for gripping the trolling-line and atens'ion-spring associated with the jaws to move them on their pivots when the resistance of vthe .log .to the spring is relieved.

The invention further consists in certain novel detailsof construction and combination of parts to be specifically described hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tension device constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the interlocking ends of the tension-V jaws. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the removable teeth; and Fig. 4 is a Serial No. 117,866. {N o model.)

fragmentary vertical sectional view through r a portion kof the base or support, one kof the 'standards for the jaws, and the clip for securj ing to the support.

The reference-numeral 1 designates a base the diagonally opposite ends oppositelycurved slots12 and 3 areformed for the reception of'arcuately-movable vertically-arranged bolts 4,`one for each slot. The head of the bolt projecting through: each slot restsina. recess''on the underside of the support, and

the shankfof' thefblt`projects. through an opening 7, centra`lly',',disposedy in a block `8, f from which prjects'ia horizontally-disposedarm 9,"car'rying-at its free eXtremityade-ly pending iingerllu'g 10. The block, arm,M and tngercon'stitute a clip wherebyits con, l operating jaw will'be pivotally secured to thee The jaw 11 is arcuate in form, ibe='" support.

.55 4'which is 'approximately-rectangular,and at ing superimposed above the support loyal -standard 12, on the lower extremityof which y is formed a disk or foot 13, having a concen-Y tric perforation 14,'which is .engaged by the. Y

depending finger 10 ofthe clip. The finger 10 constitutes a journal on which the standard 12 is permitted to swing. `The forward.

or free extremity of the blade .11 interlocks between two parallel coinciding blades 15 and 16, constituting a'second jaw, supported upon a standard 17, oppositely disposed with rela- 4 tion to the standard 12 and formed with a support 1 in the same manner as the standard 12, the only difference being in the direction ofthe curveof the slot in the support.

The free interlocking ends of theplates 11, 15, and 16, forming the jaws of the tension device, are provided with slots or cut-out portions which aline with each other and each cut-out portion is formed with vertical edge grooves 19 and 20 for the reception ofthe foot 18,corresponding to the foot 13 of the standard 12. p This standard is securedto` its vertical ribs or guide anges 21 and 22, formed on the opposite longitudinal edges of a verticallydisposed approximately rectangular tooth 23, each tooth being removably secured in its slot or cut-out portion. A notch or groove 24 is formed in the outer edge of each tooth, and the edges of the notch or groove 24: IOO

" the spring 30, thereby governing the amount their normal position.

.of the jaws are shown in Fig. 1, in which the `interlocking ends of the ljaws are shown in j formed by the parallel plates 15 and 16 of the `opposing jaw, l

'tainedas long as resistance is offered to the -'spring 30 by the tension of the log as it is ,3o

will be permitted to assume their extreme interlocked positions, indicating that there is no y 31, threaded on the free end of the rod 28.

' tlieplat'es 15`16 inward, so that the jaw 11 The relative distance xthat the jaws are to slidecan be governed by adjusting the clips y vingones with different-size grooves 24I to acfbe pulled therethrough until a suiiicient quanytity'has been played out. When it is desired converge from the upper and lower portions toward the center to afford a positive gripping-surface for the trolling-line 25. This line is guided into proper relative relation with the respective jaws by an eye or loop 26, formed or secured to one of the longitudinal edges of the support 1. The eye or loop 26 also carries an upwardly-projecting pin or journal 27, on which is secured an elongated rod 28, passing through a perforation in the ear or projection 29, depending from the standard 17. A convolute spring 30 surrounds the rod 28, and one end of saidspring bears against the standard 17, while the other end abuts against an adjusting or tension nut` This nut 31 can be adjusted onthe rod 28 to increase or diminish the expansive force of of resistance required to retain the jaws in The normal positions such positions that the end of the jaw 11 is at the forward extremity of the slot 32,

This position will be maindrawn through the water. IfY the resistance 'to the jawis removed, however, the spring 30 lwill e'xpand so as yto force the jaw formed by willV slide within the slot32, thereby taking up the slack of the trolling-line 25. If the log becomes detached from the line, the jaws resistance, so thata new log can be'attached to the line.

in the curved slots of the base 1, and the teeth 23 can be removed for the purpose of insertcommodate the teeth to lines of varying thicknesses." It will be observed thatby exerting an' abnormal pull upon the line 25 bet'ween the 'tensionldevice and the vlog the line may to take up any 'quantity of the line, the jaws can be sprung apart until thedesired amount is pulled therebetween, and by releasing the abnormal resistance said jaws will spring back in place to effectually clamp the line.

While this invention is primarily intended for use on vessels, it is obvious that it may be employed in conjunction with other devices where a tension device of this character would be desirable.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention, but Ido not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention. g

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A device of the character described comprising a pair of spring-controlled jaws, clips for securing the jaws to a support, and fastening devices for the clips.

2. A device of the character described, comprising spring-controlled pivoted jaws, each jaw being curved in an arc and interlocking with the other.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a support, blocks carried by the support, arms projecting from the blocks, depending fingers on the arms, and pivoted jaws carried by the fingers.

4. In a device of the character described, the

combination with a support, blocks carried by the support, arms projecting from the blocks, depending fingers on the arms, and springcontrolled jaws pivotally mounted on the fingers.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with' a support formed with curved slots,adjustable clips fitting in the slots, and pivoted jaws carried by the clips and adapted to grip a line between them.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a base or support formed with slots therein, blocks adj ustably movable in the slots', and spring-pressed pivoted interlocking jaws carried by the blocks.

In testimony whereofIaiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

` FRED W. TEMPLE. l Witnesses:

G. H. RANDALL, O. C. LINDEKUGEL. 

